The character of black migration, as well as the significance that migration will play in the future of the black population is examined in this paper. Section I of the paper presents an introduction. Section II addresses recent migration to metropolitan areas, focusing on the origins of recent migrants, characteristics of recent migrants (age, education, activity, status, and occupation), and a summary. This section of the paper notes that black migrants to metropolitan areas now come predominantly from other metropolitan areas and that the major stream of black migration is now from one metropolitan area to another. It is also noted that the description of the average black migrant to the city as an ill-trained person of rural background and low socioeconomic status to whom the social problems of the large metropolitan areas can be largely attributed will not hold. He or she is in fact well educated by current standards and, judging from the occupational position of those employed, relatively successful at utilizing this education. Section III discusses interstate migration and multiple movers. It seems clear from the evidence of the 1970 census, that the black population of the United States is now in a third stage--when the rural to urban shift has proceeded to the point where in fact it is a relatively small part of total migration and when perhaps the differences in educational opportunities between city and country have diminished. (Author/AM)